When I was a little girl I would pull up a chair beside my Grandmother and have my own piece of dough to make a little loaf of bread. At her side I learned to cook and in her Hamilton kitchen my odyssey with food began. My memories of experimenting with food began when I was 12, when I needed to take responsibility for a large portion of household chores, as the oldest child and only girl in a family of 6 children. I grew up in a church circle where hospitality is taught and practiced (although mainly with those within the circle). The kitchen has been a place of extreme isolation yet a place of delicious comfort. It has been, and is, my art studio. My art room/the kitchen has been a place to express my voice in a world of being silenced. My soul comes alive when I can share my art with others. The kitchen is an incredible art studio.
It is an odyssey because it is a long continuing voyage, the winds and weaves through changes. Food has connections to spiritual, to physical, to emotional and to mental pieces of us. It draws people together or can send them into isolation. It is incredibly sensuous. My journey has taken me to cooking school, it is been the key to a new career in ministry. I have been exploring the whole area of the vegan eating style, which has brought an incredible new awareness of texture and taste and slowly savouring each mouthful of food. How do various foods affect our health? Food can fill empty spaces and become an addiction, yet the church remains largely silent on this addiction. Eating with people has been a way to control others behaviour by withholding or extending invitations to “break bread together” at the meal table. Why? What are the physiological effects of these behaviours? What did Jesus say about food and sharing of it with others? It is an essential piece of our socializing. Why, from my observations, are people with great passion for life adventurous eaters but those with less passion are very picky?
This subject is something I have wanted to write on for a long time. As I explore it I learn more and see the broadness of the subject. So many questions I ask and answers I want to know. It is a fascinating exploratory voyage to me. But I will also say right up front that I don’t want to offend anyone by what I observe and have discovered but there is the chance that I might. In advance I say I will try to season my words with love and grace but…sometimes I just love to throw some cayenne in there!
There is the blending of herbs and spices. What we blend and what we do not and how culture adds another twist to that. Like a twist of lemon that adds colour, flavour and zip! Salty, sour, savory, bitter and sweet are components to great flavours. We have hidden additives in our foods that are harmful and addictive. Textures that you feel with your hands and explore them in your mouth. Various temperatures affect the food and how it tastes. I have been exploring the raw food area and it is amazing to discern the difference. Our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and hands each give messages to our brain.
So from now on you are going to be hearing more of my thoughts on this subject as I explore and ruminate on it. Perhaps at times I will include my own recipes for you to try out.
Till next time with more on the Epicurean Odyssey.
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